Well-functioning gutters are important. If you’re able to tell that your gutters aren’t working properly, you could save yourself thousands of dollars by replacing them before your home is damaged by excess moisture. Here are a few signs you need to replace your gutters:

1. You Can See Cracks

A small crack is not necessarily a small problem. Your gutters are, by nature, one of the most exposed parts of your home. After a few heavy rains, even a small crack can quickly open up into a big one. Before you know it, the gutter may split altogether.

Gaps in your gutters can cause leaks, which can cause excess moisture inside your house and can cause rot. Catch cracks in your gutters early and consider replacing them before they wear out and cause damage to other parts of your home. If you see these signs, replacing your gutters is one of the home improvement resolutions to make, keep, and take care of as soon as possible.

2. The Paint is Peeling Around Your Gutters

Peeling paint is a telltale sign that your gutters aren’t working right. Damaged, stained, or peeling paint is the “canary in the coal mine” when it comes to water damage: when it begins to peel off, it is likely that excess water is the cause.

Have a professional come to your home and assess the situation. If you stop the water damage before it gets farther than the paint, you can avoid the severe blow to your wallet that may come with rotting walls or mold behind the walls.

3. You Can See Water Damage Under Your Gutters

If you see water marks, mildew, or rust stains under or around your gutters, you know you need to replace them. Your gutters should be keeping the water out and away from your home.

If they aren’t doing this, it can lead to a lot of damage and seriously costly repairs. It could also be one of the ways you may be encouraging mold growth in your home in addition to other damage.

4. The Gutters Are Sagging

Sagging is one of the signs it’s time to replace your garage door and it is a sign for several other parts of your home as well. If gutters are sagging or pulling away from the house, it’s one of the signs you need to replace your gutters.

Poor installation could be causing them to pull away from the house, but it’s usually caused by gutters that have gotten too full of water or too heavy to stay where they should be. This is a big indication that your gutters are not functioning correctly. They could be blocked and you may need to clean your gutters. But, you may also need to replace them entirely if they have sustained too much damage.

5. Water Pools Around Your Downspout

One of the reasons why gutters and downspouts are important is that they direct water away from your home and your home’s foundation. This helps prevent serious water damage to the exterior of your home, the foundation, and the interior as well.

If water tends to pool around your downspout, it’s a sign your gutters and downspouts are not directing water away from your home as they should. Over time, this can cause mildew, mold, and serious damage to your home’s foundation.

If your gutters are still in good shape, this could be an installation or alignment issue. It could also be a sign you need to replace your gutters. You could also be seeing ice dams and other winter roofing problems that could indicate issues with your gutters.

Get New Gutters From Zephyr Thomas

These are just a few signs you need to replace your gutters. Looking over your gutters is an important part of any New Year home maintenance checklist and for regular reviews of your home throughout the year. When you look for new gutters, call Zephyr Thomas at 717-399-4708.

Our seamless gutters are available in five and six-inch sizes, in a variety of colors, and are built to last. You can also decide between Leaf Relief and LeaFree gutter protection. These two designs work in different ways to prevent leaves from weighing your gutters down and the leaks and damage that can result.

Plus, you can rest assured that the professional installing them has the experience and expertise necessary to ensure that you protect your home from water damage.